original article notes on the genus elettariopsis baker...

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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Notes on the Genus Elettariopsis Baker (Zingiberaceae) in Thailand Chayan Picheansoonthon* , Piyapong Yupparach* *Faculty of Pharmaceutical Botany and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand The Academy of Science, The Royal Institute of Thailand, Sanam Suea Pa, Khet Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Five species of the genus Elettariopsis Baker (family Zingiberaceae): E. elan C. K. Lim, E. exserta (Scort.) Bak., E. slahmong C. K. Lim, E. smithiae Y. K. Kam, and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes., are enumerated for Thailand in this treatment based on herbarium specimens. The taxonomically controversial taxon, “Pud Sing,” is confirmed to be E. slahmong C. K. Lim, not E. curtisii Bak. as previously referred to in the Thai literature. The key to and color illustrations of all Thai species are provided. The ethnobotany, chemical constituents, and biological activities of these Thai taxa are also discussed. Key words: genus Elettariopsis Baker (Zingiberaceae), Thailand, taxonomy, ethnobotany, chemical constitu- ents, biological activities Úˆ˜ «“√ “√°“√·æ∑¬å·ºπ‰∑¬·≈–°“√·æ∑¬å∑“߇≈◊Õ° «“√ “√°“√·æ∑¬å·ºπ‰∑¬·≈–°“√·æ∑¬å∑“߇≈◊Õ° «“√ “√°“√·æ∑¬å·ºπ‰∑¬·≈–°“√·æ∑¬å∑“߇≈◊Õ° «“√ “√°“√·æ∑¬å·ºπ‰∑¬·≈–°“√·æ∑¬å∑“߇≈◊Õ° «“√ “√°“√·æ∑¬å·ºπ‰∑¬·≈–°“√·æ∑¬å∑“߇≈◊Õ° ªï∑’Ë ı ©∫—∫∑’Ë Û °—𬓬π-µÿ≈“§¡ Úıı Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September-December 2007 Original Article Introduction The genus Elettariopsis Baker is a small plant group in the family Zingiberaceae with 8-15 taxa dis- tributed mainly in Southeast Asia. 1,2 Members of the genus can be distinguished from other genera by their fewer leaves (usually 1-5), loosely clasping or forming a distinct pseudostem, and their separated flowering shoots, either with clustered flowers in a head or with single flowers along a decurrent scape. 3 However, flowers of all recognized taxa are essentially similar in coloration and forms, and resemble some Amomum species 3 (e.g. A. testaceum Ridl., A. biflorum Jack, A. uliginosum Koenig). The labella are sometimes tri- lobed and crenulated, white with a yellow median stripe, and usually more or less flanked by thick red streaks along the median. The fruits are also similar, usually subglobose to globose with longitudinal ridges. 3 Moreover, other vegetative characters (habit, height, and leaf shape and size) are quite variable 3 . In Thailand, a taxonomically unknown taxon çWaan Dok Thongé or çWaan Maha Sanehé is popu- larly grown in front of shops or stores, because it is believed to have a magic power to attract customers. An unidentified taxon of this genus, known in the southern-most provinces of Thailand as çKrachai Lang Kong,é is famous in the Muslim communities as a good hypotensive herb. 5 An edible taxonomically con- troversial species çPud Singé is common in the five southern-most provinces of Thailand 3 . These taxo- nomic problems have challenged us to work on this genus, with the focus on the Thai-Malay Peninsula taxa. This paper is aimed at discussing the existing knowledge of the genus Elettariopsis Baker in Thai- land, as reported in the available scientific literature

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Page 1: Original Article Notes on the Genus Elettariopsis Baker ...thaicamdb.info/Downloads/PDF/ปี5ฉ3(267).pdf · A. testaceum Ridl., A. biflorum Jack, A. uliginosum Koenig). ... Khao

Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September - December 2007

Notes on the Genus Elettariopsis Baker

(Zingiberaceae) in Thailand

Chayan Picheansoonthon*,†

Piyapong Yupparach*

*Faculty of Pharmaceutical Botany and Pharmacognosy, Faculty ofPharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002,Thailand

†The Academy of Science, The Royal Institute of Thailand, SanamSuea Pa, Khet Dusit, Bangkok 10300, ThailandE-mail: [email protected]

AbstractFive species of the genus Elettariopsis Baker (family Zingiberaceae): E. elan C. K. Lim, E. exserta (Scort.)

Bak., E. slahmong C. K. Lim, E. smithiae Y. K. Kam, and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes., are enumerated forThailand in this treatment based on herbarium specimens. The taxonomically controversial taxon, “PudSing,” is confirmed to be E. slahmong C. K. Lim, not E. curtisii Bak. as previously referred to in the Thailiterature. The key to and color illustrations of all Thai species are provided. The ethnobotany, chemicalconstituents, and biological activities of these Thai taxa are also discussed.

Key words: genus Elettariopsis Baker (Zingiberaceae), Thailand, taxonomy, ethnobotany, chemical constitu-ents, biological activities

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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative MedicineVol. 5 No. 3 September-December 2007

Original Article

IntroductionThe genus Elettariopsis Baker is a small plant

group in the family Zingiberaceae with 8-15 taxa dis-tributed mainly in Southeast Asia.1,2 Members of thegenus can be distinguished from other genera by theirfewer leaves (usually 1-5), loosely clasping or forminga distinct pseudostem, and their separated floweringshoots, either with clustered flowers in a head or withsingle flowers along a decurrent scape.3 However,flowers of all recognized taxa are essentially similarin coloration and forms, and resemble some Amomumspecies3 (e.g. A. testaceum Ridl., A. biflorum Jack, A.uliginosum Koenig). The labella are sometimes tri-lobed and crenulated, white with a yellow medianstripe, and usually more or less flanked by thick red

streaks along the median. The fruits are also similar,usually subglobose to globose with longitudinal ridges.3

Moreover, other vegetative characters (habit, height,and leaf shape and size) are quite variable3.

In Thailand, a taxonomically unknown taxonçWaan Dok Thongé or çWaan Maha Sanehé is popu-larly grown in front of shops or stores, because it isbelieved to have a magic power to attract customers.An unidentified taxon of this genus, known in thesouthern-most provinces of Thailand as çKrachai LangKong,é is famous in the Muslim communities as agood hypotensive herb.5 An edible taxonomically con-troversial species çPud Singé is common in the fivesouthern-most provinces of Thailand3. These taxo-nomic problems have challenged us to work on thisgenus, with the focus on the Thai-Malay Peninsulataxa.

This paper is aimed at discussing the existingknowledge of the genus Elettariopsis Baker in Thai-land, as reported in the available scientific literature

Page 2: Original Article Notes on the Genus Elettariopsis Baker ...thaicamdb.info/Downloads/PDF/ปี5ฉ3(267).pdf · A. testaceum Ridl., A. biflorum Jack, A. uliginosum Koenig). ... Khao

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and from our experiences or the information gainedfrom our field work, and to report the informationobtained in four main aspects: taxonomy, ethnobotany,chemistry, and biological activities.

Taxonomy

HistoryThe genus Elettariopsis was established by Baker

in 1892 with three species: E. curtisii Bak., E. exserta(Scort.) Bak., and E. serpentina Bak.2 In 1907, Ridleylisted seven taxa for the Malay Peninsula: E. exserta(Scort.) Bak., E. curtisii Bak., E. cyanescens Ridl., E.latiflora Ridl., E. longituba Ridl., E. pubescens Ridl.,and E. serpentina Bak.4 However, later (1924) in histreatment of this genus for the Malay Peninsula, herecognized only five species: E. exserta (Scort.) Bak.,E. curtisii Bak., E. latiflora Ridl., E. longituba Ridl.,E. pubescens Ridl.,5 by transferring E. cyanescensRidl. to Kaempferia cyanescens Ridl. and consideringE. serpentina Bak. conspecific to E. curtisii Bak.

Holttum, in 1950, recognized only three spe-cies for this genus: E. curtisii Bak., E. exserta (Scort.)Bak., and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes.6 He reverted E.pubescens Ridl. to Amomum biflorum Jack, recog-nized E. latiflora Ridl. as the same to E. curtisii Bak.,and transferred E. longituba Ridl. to Elettaria longituba(Ridl.) Hollt.6 In this treatment he added a Veitnamese

taxon, E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes., as extant to the MalayPeninsula. In 1982 Kam revised the genus for the MalayPeninsula and accepted all Holtumûs taxa, adding twonew species and one variety, E. burttiana Y. K. Kam,E. smithiae Y. K. Kam var. smithiae, and E. smithiaeY. K. Kam var. rugosa Y. K. Kam7.

More recently, Lim (2003) published an excel-lent comprehensive taxonomic note on this genus andlisted nine species (adding two new taxa and chang-ing the status of one taxon) in his account: E. burttianaKam, E. curtisii Bak., E. elan C. K. Lim, E. exserta(Scort.) Bak., E. latiflora Ridl., E. rugosa (Y. K. Kam) C.K. Lim, E. slahmong C. K. Lim, E. smithiae Y. K. Kam,and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes.3 His analyses and dis-cussion on the history and treatment of the genus isexemplary and lucid.

Larsen (1996) listed three species, E. curtisii Bak.,E. smithiae Y. K. Kam, and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes.in his preliminary checklist of the Zingiberaceae ofThailand8 and in his book on the Gingers of Thailand(2006).9 The Bangkok Forest Herbarium (BKF) fol-lowed Larsen and listed these three species in thefamous Thai Plant Names and provided Thai name(s)for each taxon: E. curtisii Bak., E. smithiae Y. K. Kam,and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes.10 However, three taxa,E. curtisii Bak., E. exserta (Scort.) Bak., and E. triloba(Gagnep.) Loes. were accounted for by Niyomdhamand his collegues in their report on çPlants of Hala-

Table 1 Morphological comparison of Pud Sing and E. curtisii Bak.

Character Pud Sing E. curtisii Bak.

1. Height (cm) 32.7-38.7 6.8-13.22. Number of leaf/leaves 3-5 1-23. Ligule 2-3 mm long 4-5 mm long4. Leaf shape obovate-oblanceolate elliptic5. Leaf apex acuminate-caudate acute-acuminate6. Leaf surface glabrous, prominently veined glabrous, not prominently veined7. Petiole 4.7-12.6 cm 6.3-11.2 cm8. Inflorescence clustered in a head an elongated scape with single flowers9. Fruit globose, 6-ridged, 2.0-2.5 cm diameter not yet seen

10. Scent gives distinctive odor (from all parts, gives hardly discernible scentparticularly leaves) of a çstink bugé

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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September - December 2007 Úˆ˘

Fig. 1 E. curtisii in its type location on Penang Hill (Malaysia) Fig. 2 E. curtisii, showing the plant habit with an inflorescence

Fig. 3 E. curtisii, showing detail of an inflorescence Fig. 4 A detailed flower of E. curtisii showing coloration of thelabellum

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Fig. 5 Pud Sing, showing the plant habit with an inflorescence Fig. 6 Pud Sing, showing a clustered inflorescence

Fig. 7 Pud Sing, showing an inflorescence Fig. 8 Pud Sing, showing a detailed labellum and anther crest

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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September - December 2007 Ú˜Ò

Table 2 List of the currently known taxa of Elettariopsis Bak. in Thailand

Vernacular name Botanical name Specimen studied Collection sites

1. Pud Hom (ªÿ¥ÀÕ¡) E. elan C. K. Lim C.K. Lim L6306, Kerunai, Gerik, Perak, Malasia (Type)

C.K. Lim L3007, Cultivated, Penang Botanic Garden, Malaysia

C.K. Lim L3055, Cultivated, Penang Botanic Garden, Malaysia

C.K. Lim L3547, Mahang, Kedah, Malaysia

C.K. Lim L6089, Cultivated, Penang Botanic Garden, Malaysia

PY-CP 0014 Hala Forest, Yala Province, Thailand

2. Pee-la-bai (ªï≈–„∫), E. exserta (Scort.) Bak. Scort. 1947, Goping, Kinta, Perak, Malaysia (Type)

Sa-la-da-hong PY-CP 0008, Khao Bantad, Pattalung, Thailand

(´≈“¥“‚Œß) PY-CP 0014, Khao Maen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

PY-CP 0036, Tamnang Waterfall, Pang-nga, Thailand

PY-CP 0036, Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi,Thailand

C.K. Lim L6089 Phu Khao Thong, Bala Forest, Thailand

3. Pud Sing (ªÿ¥ ‘ßÀå) E. slahmong C. K. Lim C.K. Lim L6101, Belum FR, Perak, Malaysia (Type)

C.K. Lim L3797, Phu Khao Thong, Bala Forest, Thailand

C.K. Lim L3804, Waeng, Narathiwat, Thailand

PY-CP 0018, Chulabhorn 7, Yala, Thailand

PY-CP 0011, Bala Forest, Su-ngai Kolok, Thailand

Kam 221, Taman Negara, Malaysia

Beltran 116 Templer Park, Perak, Malasia

4. Krachai Lung Kong E. smithiae Y. K. Kam Beltran 110, Cultivated, Selangor, Malaysia (Type)

(°√–™“¬À≈—ß°ß), Beltran 136, G. Jerai, Kedah, Malaysia

PudKrawan (ªÿ¥°√–«“π), Kam 183, G. Jerai, Kedah, Malaysia

Pud Khai Muk (ªÿ¥‰¢à¡ÿ°) Ridley s.n. 7223, Hermitage Hill, Malaysia

C.K. Lim L3209, G. Panti, Jahor, Malaysia

PY-CP 0013, Than Pliu Waterfall, Songkhla, Thailand

PY-CP 0047 Thaleban National Park, Satun, Thailand

5. Pud Nu (ªÿ¥ÀπŸ), E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes. C.K. Lim L3257, Cultivated, Jahor, Malaysia

Tue-pu- tee-ku (µ◊Õªÿµ’°ÿä) PY-CP 0022, Phu Pan, Sakhon Nakhon, Thailand

PY-CP 0039, Phu Pan, Sakhon Nakhon, Thailand

PY-CP 0041, Cultivated, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

PY-CP 0052, Cultivated, Penang, Malaysia

S. Saensouk 40 Phu Pan, Sakhon Nakhon, Thailand

*All Thai specimens collected by çPY-CPé will be deposited at the Bangkok Forest Herbarium (BKF).

Balaé11. In Limûs account for the Malay Peninsula,five species of the genus: E. elan C. K. Lim, E. exserta(Scort.) Bak., E. slahmong C. K. Lim, E. smithiae Y. K.Kam, and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes., were mentionedas also occurring in Thailand.3

Taxonomic status of çPud SingéThe species known in the five southern-most

provinces of Thailand as çPud Singé is one of thecontroversial taxa of the genus Elettariopsis. Larsenincluded E. curtisii Bak. in his checklist of this genus

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Fig. 9 E. elan in its natural habitat (type location)

Fig. 10 E. elan, showing a detailed labellum and anther crest Fig. 11 E. elan, showing a clustered inflorescence

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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September - December 2007

Fig. 12 E. exserta, showing an elongated inflorescence

Fig. 13 E. exserta, showing a detailed labellum and anthercrest

Fig. 14 E. exserta, showing an inflorescence and a young fruit

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Fig. 17 E. triloba, showing the plant habit with an inflores-cence

Fig. 18 E. triloba, showing a detailed flower

Fig. 15 E. smithiae, showing the plant habit Fig. 16 E. smithiae, showing an inflorescence

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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September - December 2007 Ú˜ı

for Thailand8,9 based on his judgement on the iden-tity of çPud Sing.é Sirirugsa,12 Niyomdham,11 and theBangkok Forest Herbarium (BKF)10, all followed Larsen,and listed çPud Singé as E. curtisii Bak. However, in2003, Lim, who lives on Penang Hill, next door to thetype location of E. curtisii Bak., pointed out that thisPenang taxon is not the same as çPud Sing.é Herecognized çPud Singé as a new taxon and named thespecies çElettariopsis slahmong C. K. Limé. The spe-cific epithet recognizes the Temiar name of the plantmeaned çthe smelly leaves.é

From our field observation and investigation ofthe plant specimens on both çPud Singé and E. curtisiiBak., we did find morphological differences betweenthese two species (see Table 1 and Figures 1-4). Also,the scent of crushed leaves of the two taxa is ratherdistinguishable. çPud Singé is a strongly aromatic herbwith the distinctive odor (from all parts, particularlythe leaves) of the çstink bug,é whereas E. curtisii Bak.gives off hardly any discernible scent, confirming thatçPud Singé is a different taxon, i.e. E. slahmong C. K.Lim. Figures 5-8 and E. curtisii Bak. may be en-demic and confined only to Penang Island. We, there-fore, consider our çPud Singé as E. slamong C. K. Lim,and not E. curtisii Bak.

Preliminary checklist for ThailandFrom our intensive fieldwork throughout Penin-

sular Malaysia, Thailand and Laos, we have collectedmore than 15 presumably different taxa, some of whichare under investigation both ex situ and in situ. Since

the flowers of all the species are similar in form andcoloration, the main differences are the inflorescencemorphology, either with single flowers on an elon-gated scape or with clustered flowers in a head, andthe vegetative morphology. However, for the localsthe scent of crushed leaves can, in some species, bedistinguishable among folk taxa. The difference inscence reflects the difference in volatile chemicalcomposition, mainly monoterpenoids and sesquiter-penoids. Therefore, we are presently working on vola-tile oil analyses and a molecular study of all Thaitaxa. The result of these studies will be included inour comprehensive treatment of the genus for Thai-land in the near future.

However, for the purpose of setting up baselineinformation for our future report on the studies of thisgenus, we confirmed five taxa as mentioned in Limûsreport.3 The list of these five species with the her-barium specimens studied and their locations aregiven in Table 2. The key to all currently known Thaitaxa is given in Box 1. Color illustrations of all fivetaxa are also provided (Figures 5-18).

EthnobotanyEthnobotany is a multidisciplinary study on the

direct interrelationships between humans of any raceor ethnicity and plants in their environments. Thisinterrelationship includes the uses of plants for food,medicine, clothing, dwelling, art and culture, andbeliefs.13-15 Based on our field studies, some taxa ofthe genus Elettariopsis Bak. in Thailand are associ-

Box 1. Key to species of the Elettariopsis Bak. in Thailand

1. Scape with clustered flowers in a head ................................................ 2.1. Scape with single flowers along a decurrent axis ......................... .......................4.2. Leaves prominently veined, strongly aromatic with distinctive çstink bugé odor ............................. E. slahmong

2. Leaves not prominently veined, strongly aromatic or discernibly scented ................................................ 3.3. Leaves 3-4, not discernibly scented .....................................E. triloba

3. Leaves 2-5, strongly aromatic ........................................ E. elan

4. Leaves 3-5(-6), lanceolate, glabrous and shiny ................................. E. smithiae

4. Leaves (1-)2-3, elliptic, coriaceous and dull, strongly plicate .................................... E. exserta

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ated with food, medicine, and beliefs.The leaves of E. slahmong C. K. Lim, known as

çPud Singé in Thai or as çSlahmongé in Temiar no-menclature, are considered delectable, and are usedin native cuisine, in particular in cooking fish.3 Insouthern Thailand, the leaves of this plant are alsoeaten as a vegetable with different types of chillidippings. The Thai name çPud Singé refers to theplant group and the shape of the flowers. The wordçpudé in the southern Thai dialect means çpop upéindicating the habit of this plant group which willçpop upé in the rainy season. The Thai word çsingéliterally means çlion;é it refers to the shape of theflowers, which somewhat resemble a lion.

One of the Elettariopsis species, known in Thaias çKrachai Lang Kong,é is used in southern Thailandin an hypotensive remedy.16 The plant habit resemblesthat of çKrachai [Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf.],ébut the leaves are drooping; hence, the name çKrachaiLang Kong.é From our taxonomic study of this taxon,we identified this species as E. smithiae Y. K. Kam.

The unknown taxon, Elettariopsis aff. triloba(Gagnep.) Loes., known locally in the northeasternregion of Thailand as çWaan Dok Thongé or çWaanMaha Saneh,é is believed to process a magical power,and therefore, it is used as a good-luck charm. TheThai names of this taxon imply magical seductivepower. This plant is grown in pots, and put in front ofshops in the belief that they will help to attract cus-tomers, especially when the plant is in bloom (usuallyat the end of March or in early May). The rhizomes ofthis taxon are also used as one of the ingredients formaking çmagical herbal charming oilé or çmagicalcharming lip balm,é in the belief that after applying itto oneûs body (oil) or lips (lip balm), it will help to at-tract the targeted opposite sex, particularly women.17,18

ChemistryEssential oil is the major chemical constituent

of all parts of the Elettariopsis species. It is volatile atroom temperature; hence the name çvolatile oilé orçethereal oilé. Terpenes, particularly monoterpenesand sesquiterpenes, are the major constituents of anessential oil. Members of the genus Elettariopsis Baker

yield different scents due to the different composi-tions and amounts of these terpenes.

The essential oils from leaves, rhizomes, and rootsof E. elan C. K. Lim have been reported.3 Based oncapillary GC and GC-MS analysis, 28 compounds havebeen identified from the leaf oil, among whichmonoterpenoids predominate and the most abundantcomponent is geraniol (71.6%). The rhizomes androots also yield oils rich in monoterpenoids, but witha distinctly different odor, with camphene (28.6%),fenchyl acetate (8.6%) and α-phellandrene (8.4%) asthe major components.19

Hydrodistillation of the leaves, rhizomes, and rootsof E. smithiae Y. K. Kam yields volatile oils. The oilsof E. smithiae Y. K. Kam are dominated by monoter-penoids; the major components being geranial (38.1%)and neral (29.1%) in the leaf oil, and camphene (22.9%)and α-fenchyl acetate (15.7%) in the oils from therhizomes and roots.20 However, terpenoid compo-nents in the oil of E. slahmong C. K. Lim that charac-terized the species are predominantly 2-octenal (46%)and 2-decenal (29%).3

Essential oils of E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes. fromtwo different sources, Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden(RIBG) and the Botanical Research Garden (BRG), havebeen compared chemically.21 The volatile compo-nents of E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes. from RIBG werefound to be more than those from BRG. A total of 36,36 and 37 components were identified in the leaves,roots and rhizomes of samples from RIBG, respec-tively, while only 10, 19 and 28 components wereidentified in the sample from BRG. The major compo-nents of the leaves of the plant from RIBG were β-citral (16.16%) and α-citral (14.13%), whereas the ma-jor components of the rhizomes were limonene (9.68%),heptan-2-ol-acetate (9.68%), 2-carene (9.05%). Themajor constituents of the root oil of the plant fromBRG were identified as α-terpinyl acetate (3.73%), α-fenchyl acetate (3.64%), α-phellandren (3.63%).21

Biological ActivitiesThe methanolic extract of the whole plant of E.

smithiae Y. K. Kam in a study showed a broncho-dilating effect and demonstrated a positive inotropic

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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September - December 2007 Ú˜˜

References1. Mabberley DJ. The Plant Book. A portable dictionary of the higher

plants. London: Cambridge University Press. 1993. p. 202.2. Baker JG. Scitamineae. In: Hooker JD. Flora of British India. Vol. 4.

1892; pp 198-265.3. Lim CK. Taxonomic notes on Elettariopsis Baker, and new taxa from

Peninsular Malaysia & Thailand. Folia Malaysiana 2003;4(3&4):205-26.

4. Ridley HN. Materials for a Flora of the Malayan Peninsula II. Singapore:Methodist Publishing House. 1907. p. 42-44.

5. Ridley HN. The flora of the Malay Peninsula. Vol. IV.(Monocotyledones.London: L. Reeve & Co., Ltd. 1924. p. 233-85.

6. Holttum RE. The Zingiberaceae of the Malay Peninsula. The GardenBulletin, Singapore. Vol. XIII Part I. 1950. 249 pp.

7. Kam YK. The genus Elettariopsis (Zingiberaceae) in Malaya. NotesRBG Edinb. 1982;40(1):139-52.

8. Larsen K. A preliminary checklist of the Zingiberaceae of Thailand.Thai For Bull (Bot) 1996;24:35-49.

9. Larsen K, Larsen SS. Gingers of Thailand. Chiang Mai: Queen SirikitBotanic Garden. 2006. p. 163.

10. The Forest Herbarium, The Royal Forest Department. Thai Plant NamesTem Smitinand. Revised Edition. Bangkok: Prachachon, Co. Ltd. 2001.p. 216.

11. Annual Report of the Wildlife Conservation Project of the SouthernQueenûs Forest (the Second Area: Changwats Yala and Narathiwat).Plants of Hala-Bala. Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing PublicCo. 2000. p. 144.

12. Sirirugsa P. The Zingiberaceae in Thailand. Handout circulated in aSymposium on Plant Resources of the Himalayan Foothills. QueenSirikit Botanic Garden and The Holiday Inn, Changwat Chiangmai.November 18-19, 1996.

13. Picheansoonthon C. Ethnobotany and the search for new drugs. In:The National Research Council of Thailand, Khon Kaen University,and The Pharmacognosy Society of Thailand. Report on the SeminarCommemorating the 50th Anniversary of His Majesty the KingûsAccession to the Throne on çThai Medicinal Plantsé. The CharoenThani Princess Hotel, Changwat Khon Kaen. 23-25 January, 1997. p.206-28.

14. Cotton CM. Ethnobotany: Principles and applications. Chichester: JohnWiley & Sons. 1996. p. 2.

15. Martin GJ. Ehnobotany. London: Chapman & Hall. 1995. p. xx-xxiv.16. Lojanapiwatana W, Sanpanich M. The report on çChemical and

pharmacological studies of Krachai Lung Kong (Elettariopsis sp.)é.Songkla: Prince of Songkla University. 1994. p. 66.

17. Pakchong B. Chumnum Waan-ya Lae Mai Mongkol. Bangkok (Publishernot specified). 1981. p. 38.

18. Khobkhet O. Khu Mue Do Waan. Bangkok (publisher not specified).1982. p. 86-7.

19. Wong KC, Sivasothy Y, Boey RL. Essential Oils of Elettariopsis elanC. K. Lim. J Essent Oil Res 2006; 21: 562-4.

20. Wong KC, Sivasothy Y, Boey RL. Essential Oils of Elettariopsis smithiaeY. K. Kam and E. rugosa (Y. K. Kam) C. K. Lim. J Essent Oil Res2006.

effect in low dose.16 Crude methanolic extract andcrude dichlo-romethane extract of this taxon also il-lustrated antioxidant activity.22 Volatile oils from boththe leaves and the rhizomes showed potent antibac-terial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcus aeruginosa and Sarcina spp.22

ConclusionThis paper combined the results from our field

work on plant collection and ethnobotany with a lit-erature review on the genus Elettariopsis Baker inThailand. Currently, five taxa were enumerated forThailand, namely E. elan C. K. Lim, E. exserta (Scort.)Bak., E. slahmong C. K. Lim, E. smithiae Y. K. Kam,and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes. The key to all speciesfound in Thailand is also provided. In this paper, weclarify, for the first time, the taxonomic status of thepreviously confusing taxon, çPud Singé and the for-merly unknown plant çKrachai Lang Kongé, as E.slahmong C. K. Lim and E. smithiae Y. K. Kam, re-spectively. We also formally added a newly recordedtaxon for Thailand, E. elan C. K. Lim. from the Balaand Hala Forests. Moreover, we also provided addi-tional existing information on ethnobotany, chemis-try, and biological activities of all five Thai speciesfor anyone interested in carrying on further researchon these aspects of this plant group.

AcknowledgementThis research project is part of a five-year project

entitled çStudies on fundamental botanical knowledgeand DNA fingerprints of the Thai medicinal Waané,financially supported by the Thai Traditional MedicalKnowledge Fund of the Ministry of Public Health. Theauthors would like to thank Datuk Seri Lim ChongKeat for his encouragement and sharing and the staffof our research group: Mr. Chalermchok Boonchit,Mr.Supachai Koonterm, Mr. Jeeradej Mayoe, and Miss.Pornpimon Wongsuwan for field assistance. All pho-tos in this article were taken by the first author.

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«“√ “√°“√·æ∑¬å·ºπ‰∑¬·≈–°“√·æ∑¬å∑“߇≈◊Õ° ªï∑’Ë ı ©∫—∫∑’Ë Û °—𬓬π - ∏—𫓧¡ Úıı

21. Mustafa AM, Anita H, Ibrahim H. Comparison of volatile compoundsfrom two variants of Elettariopsis triloba (Gagnepain.) Loesen.Proceeding of the Second Symposium on Family Zingiberaceae.Guangzhou: South China Institute of Botany. 1996. pp. 174-9.

∫∑§—¥¬àÕæ◊™ °ÿ≈«à“π¥Õ°∑Õß (Elettariopsis Baker) „πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬

™¬—πµå 摇™’¬√ ÿπ∑√*,†

, ªî¬–æß…å ¬—æ√“…Æ√å*

*§≥–‡¿ —™»“ µ√å, ¡À“«‘∑¬“≈—¬¢Õπ·°àπ, Õ”‡¿Õ‡¡◊Õß, ®—ßÀ«—¥¢Õπ·°àπ ÙÚ† ”π—°«‘∑¬“»“ µ√å, √“™∫—≥±‘µ¬ ∂“π,  π“¡‡ ◊ժɓ, ‡¢µ¥ÿ ‘µ, °√ÿ߇∑æ œ ÒÛ

æ◊™ °ÿ≈«à“π¥Õ°∑Õß ( °ÿ≈ Elettariopsis Baker) ‡ªìπæ◊™«ß»å¢‘ß (Zingiberaceae)  °ÿ≈‡≈Á° Ê  °ÿ≈Àπ÷Ëß ‡¥‘¡¡’√“¬ß“π

«à“æ∫„πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬‡æ’¬ß Û ™π‘¥‡∑à“π—Èπ. ·µà®“°°“√»÷°…“µ—«Õ¬à“ßæ◊™ °ÿ≈π’È∑’Ëæ∫„π∏√√¡™“µ‘·≈–µ—«Õ¬à“ßæ√√≥‰¡â·Àâß

„π‡∫◊ÈÕßµâπæ∫«à“¡’æ◊™ °ÿ≈π’È„πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬Õ¬à“ßπâÕ¬ ı ™π‘¥ ‰¥â·°à ªÿ¥ÀÕ¡ (E. elan C. K. Lim), ªï≈–„∫ À√◊Õ´≈“¥“

‚Œß [E. exserta (Scort.) Bak.], ªÿ¥ ‘ßÀå (E. slahmong C. K. Lim), °√–™“¬À≈—ß°ß À√◊Õªÿ¥°√–«“π À√◊Õªÿ¥‰¢à¡ÿ° (E.

smithiae Y. K. Kam), ·≈–ªÿ¥ÀπŸ À√◊Õµ◊Õªÿµ’°ÿä [E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes.]. „π√“¬ß“ππ’ȉ¥â¬◊π¬—π™◊ËÕ惰…»“ µ√å

¢Õߪÿ¥ ‘ßÀå«à“‡ªìπ E. slahmong C. K. Lim ‰¡à„™à E. curtisii Bak. ¥—ß∑’ˇ§¬‡¢â“„®°—π. πÕ°®“°π—Èπ ®“°°“√»÷°…“¬—ßæ∫

æ◊™ °ÿ≈π’È„πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬Õ—π‡ªìπæ◊™∑’ËÕ“®‡ªìπ™π‘¥∑’Ëæ∫„πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬‡ªìπ§√—Èß·√°, À√◊Õæ◊™™π‘¥„À¡à, Õ’°À≈“¬™π‘¥ ‡™àπ

«à“π¥Õ°∑Õß. „π√“¬ß“ππ’Ȭ—߉¥â‡ πÕ√Ÿª«‘∏“π®”·π°™π‘¥ (key to species) ¢Õßæ◊™ °ÿ≈π’È∑’Ëæ∫„πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬∑—Èß ı ™π‘¥

æ√âÕ¡¿“æ ’ª√–°Õ∫. πÕ°®“°π—Èπ¬—߉¥â√“¬ß“π¢âÕ¡Ÿ≈‡™‘ß惰…»“ µ√åæ◊Èπ∫â“π, Õߧåª√–°Õ∫‡§¡’ ·≈–ƒ∑∏‘Ï∑“ß™’«¿“æ

¢Õßæ◊™ °ÿ≈π’È∑’Ëæ∫„πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬ ‚¥¬¢âÕ¡Ÿ≈¥â“π惰…»“ µ√åæ◊Èπ∫â“ππ—Èπ πÕ°®“°®–‰¥âª√–¡«≈®“°‡Õ° “√µà“ß Ê ·≈â«

¬—߉¥â®“°°“√»÷°…“¿“§ π“¡.  à«π¢âÕ¡Ÿ≈¥â“πÕߧåª√–°Õ∫‡§¡’·≈–ƒ∑∏‘Ï∑“ß™’«¿“懪ìπ¢âÕ¡Ÿ≈∑’˪√–¡«≈®“°‡Õ° “√

√“¬ß“π°“√«‘®—¬µà“ß Ê ‡∑à“∑’Ë¡’√“¬ß“π.

§” ”§—≠: æ◊™ °ÿ≈«à“π¥Õ°∑Õß, ª√–‡∑»‰∑¬, Õπÿ°√¡«‘∏“π, 惰…»“ µ√åæ◊Èπ∫â“π, Õߧåª√–°Õ∫‡§¡’, ƒ∑∏‘Ï∑“ß™’«¿“æ

22. Chairgulprasert V, Prasertsongskun S, Junpraob S. Antioxidant andantibacterial activities of Pud Sing (Elettariopsis curtisii). Abstracts forthe 31th Sciences and Technology Congress. Suranari University ofThechnology. Nakhon Ratchasima Province, October 18-20, 2005.

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